Brilliant piece that really gets to the crux of things. As someone who works in content marketing, this is an exciting turn for SEO. Stories are always going to be more engaging to readers, and so it’s time to get more creative!

This is a toughie.

Small businesses tend to always get the short end of the stick. Too many responsibilities, not enough folks to learn (and implement.)

My advice would be to bring on a consultant who is OK with working a few hours a quarter. Have him/her assess your site, develop a process and train your team. After that, they could check in with you on a monthly basis (or even better – quarterly) to tell you what’s new, measure your success and tweak your process.

Yes, it costs money – but it’s less than hiring a firm. And it’s a faster way to keep up with the latest and greatest.

Your other alternative is to spend a lot of time reading blogs, books, tweets, etc. You may save money this way, but you won’t save time – and you probably won’t be as efficient.

How else can I help?

@Julie – thank you for your comments! You definitely have to keep up with the daily SEO news. I took some time away from the computer last year and was shocked at what happened while I was gone. It took a looonngg time to catch up. Things are shifting pretty rapidity – and you’re right, those tips could be the difference between success and failure.

That’s why I’ve always said that SEO copywriting (and SEO in general) is the perfect career for people who love fast-paced industries. There’s never a dull moment…

:)